As the guardian shrine of sacred Mt. Kongo, the people of nearby villages have worshipped at Takemikumari Shrine as a birthplace shrine since ancient times. The ancestor gods of a powerful family, the Kusunoki Clan, are enshrined here. Also known as "Suibun Shrine" (water shrine), the shrine is believed to have originated in 92 B.C. when it was dedicated to the water god at the foot of Kongo Katsuragi mountain. In 1334, Kusunoki Masashige, acting on orders from the emperor, moved the shrine building to its current location rebuilding the main shrine, etc. During the middle ages, the shrine grounds were burned as a part of Oda Nobunaga's campaign, and the shrine temporarily declined. However, it was able to make a recovery thanks to the contributions of Hideyoshi. The architectural style of the inner sanctuary is unique in Japan and registered as a national important cultural property. (General visitors are restricted to the hall of worship.) Takemikumari's auxiliary shrine, Nagi Shrine, is the oldest shrine in Japan devoted to Masashige. The current main building is a 1940 reconstruction.